The United States already has sufficient forces in the Gulf to launch a war against Iraq, Israel's army chief said in comments published on Friday.
Lieutenant-General Moshe Yaalon told Israel's Yedioth Ahronoth daily he agreed "more or less" with assessments that a U.S. military campaign against Iraq would start between mid-February and early March.
Asked if the Americans had enough forces in the Gulf to deliver a "crushing blow against Iraq" now, the chief of staff said: "It appears so. They can do it, once the order is given."
Yaalon said no orders would be given to Israelis yet to carry government-issued gas masks or prepare sealed rooms in case Iraq responds to any U.S.-led attack by firing Scud missiles with chemical or biological warheads at Israel.
Iraq launched 39 Scuds with conventional warheads at Israel in the 1991 Gulf War, causing damage to several residential areas in the cities of Tel Aviv and Haifa.
Yaalon said he believed there was "a very low probability" Israel would be targeted this time. (Albawaba.com)
© 2003 Al Bawaba (www.albawaba.com)
